Chronic cough in children is a common reason for healthcare visits and affects between 5% and 10% of children in the general population, as estimated based on parental questionnaires. (1) The definition of chronic cough varies among different guidelines. It is defined as a persistent and unremitting cough lasting more than four weeks in the 2020 CHEST consensus statement. (2) The British Thoracic Society guidelines label chronic cough in children as one that lasts beyond eight weeks, while acknowledging the existence of a prolonged subacute cough that lasts between four and eight weeks. (3) HOW RELEVANT IS THIS TO MY PRACTICE?An increase in health-seeking behaviour has been observed among parents of children with chronic cough in this new era of heightened vigilance and surveillance amid the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Prolonged respiratory symptoms could result in the child being isolated, with grave economic and psychological consequences for all individuals involved in the child's care. In Singapore, the 'stay home' notices and quarantine periods to reduce transmission risks among patients or contacts with respiratory symptoms result in the coughing child missing school and necessitate last-minute changes in caregivers' routines to accommodate caring for the child at home. Potential loss in work hours, productivity and household income can cause additional stress to the caregivers. The impact on the family dyad, such as increased caregiver stress, falling academic performance and anxiety over missing major events if subjected to repeated rounds of medical leave, make it crucial for a clinician to develop a sound approach for the management of children with chronic cough. In this article, we suggest an approach to a child with chronic cough in the primary care setting, common causes of chronic cough in children, and indications for referral to a paediatric respiratory specialist for further evaluation and investigations.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.